Loom letoff ratchet lever



Feb. 13,; 1951 NICHOLS 2,543,969

LOOM LETOF'F RATCHET LEVER Filed Dec. 26, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I //\/\//vm/? EDWARD CNICHOLS Feb. 13, 1951 E. c. NncHoLs LOOM LETOFF RATCHET LEVER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 26, 1946 EDWYIED CTN/CHOLJ' Feb 9 E951 E. c. NICHOLS 2,541,969

LOOM LETOFF RATCHET LEVER Filed Dec. 26, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 13, 1951 g Y. .1

. QLVOOM LETDFF RATCHETYLEVER Edward C. :Nichols, Upton, Mass., assignor =t :DrapervCorporation, Hop.edale,.:Mass., .a :corpo- :rationof Maine ApplicationDecember 26,1946,'SerialNof7I8389 '71Claims.

"The preserit invention-relates toweaving looms "and more particularly -"to warp lt-o'fi '-mecha fnisms for "such looms. The -majority =01" looms --fcommercially used are equippe'd with a warp ":beam containing a wound mass of warp threads -:.which=--extend-from the mass'in the form of a warp sheet to 'a whip roll or guide roll *from which 'thewarp sheet passes to the actual weavi ing instrumenta'lities' to be incorporated with i the -wf-t to form Woven-cloth. The warp beamusual- "ly'is positively driven'-'or*rotate'd in-a forward di- -"-'-rection to '-unwindor" let off the -warp sheet from the beam, being driven by reduction gearing conne'ctedito the beam and in' turn driven, "in' 'the "majority of "installations, by oscillating pawl :ineans intermittently :rota'ting a ratchet wheel arranged in driving relation with the gearing. FStr'ucture generally is 1 provided whereby the average rateof rotation of thewarp-beamfis iregulated so the warp sheet is letoff at a-desired l-u-a'te' and under fairly uniform" tension. Attimes during the weaving'process it becomes necessary toreversely rotate-*the'warp beam, iie, to rotate the beam in a direction to=wind thewarptsheet *ontothe-beam. For-instance,=it iseustomary to let" back the woven-cloth from the-take-up meh- "an'ism andreversely' operate the weaving mechariism by hand' and unweave the cloth to remove *amispiek or lengtlr e f-weft, or for other reasons; Since the pawl and -'ratchet driven let-oifmeans operate unidirectionally it is evident that the "-Warp beam is not reversel-y rotated during the un-weaving process,- and accordingly other means must be provided to reversely rotate the *beam to: remove slackness from-the warp sheet. Otherjf wise an-obj actionable 5 thin place would 'be produce'd intheclothflowering its value. l-leretoforereverse rotation of the warpbeam f'was' accomplished through direct rotation of I a fifformed on the-='warp "beam, the rotation of the 's haft beingefiected either' byrotation 'of a han'd- "Wihel affiired on the-"sha'ft-'or in other instances thy-releasing lutch means and rotating-a part ofthe clutchsecured on the shaft. I If the loom *was'equippe'd' with a' 'handwheelfthe driving pawl 'i'haditdbe held in"inoperative-position,and if the 31mm "was equipped with a *let-o'fi clutch, the cclutchi'had f to be idisengage'd, during reverse roi-iationiofstheashaft. In yiewidffthe fact' that most :lte'dfi drive 2 mechanisms are located near the li bottom :of rth'e ileum -:and :protrude "fr omthei side =:-thereof,;-ope1:ation pf' .zthe handwheel oriclutchito ztreversely 1r0tate athe warp ,ibeam .zhas sheen :relayitiyelvrdificult; and stedious. l'ilspeciallyzhas this 110 "The *lutch type "mechanism suffered the disa'dvantages of i being expensive to produce, easily broken or;;deranged, and involved production and assembly *of a relatively large number of parts. The-handwheel type mechanism involved a shaft "extension to 1 carry the 'handwheel, thus "unduly obstructing 'theweave room aisle with ashaft and wheel.

With the "ab ove objectionable features of "prior warp -let-offmechanisms' in view, it is an object :120' of thepresent invention toprovide a simple read- =i1y accessible and easily operated manual' means -for 1 operating the let-off mechanism --ither -for- Wardly 'to let 01f warp or-reversely to -wind on warp, and dispensing with the necessity for ;a clutch or afhan'd wheel. A further-object isto s'implify- -*existing let-off mechanisms whereby "fewer parts and 'less space are necessary and whereby' manuallet-off and wind-on of l the warp may easily be accomplished-through efiorttrans- 'mitted -through the usual reduction gearing. It

is anotherobject of the inventionto'provide an articulated-manual pawl lever which may be'no'r- =mal1y idle but movable in either of 'two directions 'alternatively toforwardly or reversely rotate the *es ratchet wheel of a loomlet-offmechani'sm. It

-is a fuither objectof theinvention to-provide a "manual pawl lever movable to engagealternative- "ly with a irontor-a rear'face of *a toothof a 'loom I warp let-off mechanism 'ratchet-v'rheel and cor-1- 40-' currently forwardly or reversely, respectively,:-'ro- 'tat'e'the ratchet=wheel, whereby thelever 'may'ibe employed-alternatively"to "forwardly or reversly Frotatethe'warp' beam; i

The 'abo-ve objects and-others to become here- *inafter evi'dent are accomplished by the inven- 'ition, one preferred embodiment of which is iully -disclosed in the'following description and iaccom- 'panying drawings considered each withsthepther.

. In the drawings:

.Figfil isca pictorial view-of;a;loomxwarp:leteofl im'echanism incorporating ,the invention land :showing associated "portions of the warp beam and loomirame;

iEigJL2 assectional View xshowingithe position 355x61 a .tpawl *leverzaccordingzte:the inventiomrelagagement with gear 28. ,shaft 32 is an internal gear 36. This gear may be secured to shaft 32 as by key means 38 or set screw means 40, or both such means. Gear 36 is .end of shaft 32. brackets 46, 48 (Fig. 1) which are attached to suitable manner.

seen in Figs. 2 and 5, is provided with internal 1 teeth 50 with which is meshed an annular planetary gear 52 provided with two lateral lugs 54,

tive to conventional portions of the let-off mechanism;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views illustrating relative positions of the pawls acting on the ratchetwheel of the let-off mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a view of parts of the let-off mecha nism in disassembled array;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of certain parts of the let-off mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a view illustrating forward and reverse rotation of the ratchet-wheel of the letoif mechanism by the lever of the invention, and

Fig. 8 is a view illustrating the normal idle position of the lever of the invention.

In the drawings there is shown only so much of conventional loom structure as is necessary to a full understanding of the invention. Of this structure there is shown a warp beam I0 (Fig. 1) from which extends a warp sheet I2. The beam is supported on a shaft I4 resting in bearings I6, of which only that one at the left hand loomside is shown. The bearin I6 may comprise a cap I8 secured as by a bolt 20 to a bracket 22 secured in any desirable manner to loomside 24. It will be understood that similar and complementary bearing and bracket structures may be provided to support the other end of shaft I4.

30 (Fig. 2) at the inner end thereof is a shaft 32 on which is fixed a pinion 34 in driving en- At the opposite end of provided with a machined hub 42 which rotates 'in and is supported by an outboard bearin 44,

which bearing consequently supports the outer Bearing 44 is supported by and supported by the loomside 24 in any desired Internal gear 36, as may be 56. Lugs 54, 56, are arranged to ride in respective guide slots 58, 60in a T-shaped member 62.

Member 62 is provided with a third guide slot 64 formed by opposed portions 66, 68 of the member, which guide slot allows member '62 to reciprocate transversely of shaft 32 while guided by a hub I0 of a wheel to be more fully described hereinafter. Member 62 is prevented from pantaking of rotation about hub (see Fig. 1) by having an end thereof slidably confined in an aperture I2 of a bracket I4 secured to bracket 48 as by a bolt 16. With gears 36 and 52 assembled about shaft 32and with lugs 54, 56 engaged in slots 58, 60, gear 52 is constrained against rotation about its own axis, but may partake-of planetary movement within the confines of gear 36. Planetary driving movement is given gear 52 by an eccentric I8 preferably formed aswheel 80 is thus made capable of rotating shaft 32 through the medium of eccentric I8, planetary gear 52, and gear 36, the planetary gear moving in an orbit about the shaft 32 and imparting a reciprocatory movement to member 62 as the lower end of member H6.

4 ratchet-wheel is slowly rotated. It will be noted that due to the difference in the diameters of gears 52 and 36, the gearing comprising those gears is a reduction gearing when viewed from the ratchet-wheel end of the gear train.

As illustrated best in Fig. 1, ratchet-wheel is provided with a friction flange 82 on which is fitted a friction strap 84 anchored to a bracket 86 secured to bracket 46. This friction strap is tightened about the friction flange to the degree necessary to maintain the gearing quiescent under the torque applied by the tension of warp sheet I2 acting on beam I0. The ratchet-wheel is arranged to be given a step-by-step or intermittent forward rotation by pawls 88 and 89 carried on a lever 9a pivotally mounted on a sleeve 92 on shaft 32 (Fig. 2). Lever may be given an intermittent rocking motion by a rod 94, Figs. 2 and '7, pivotally attached to the lower end of the lever, which rod may be actuated by any suitable means, as by a connection to a lay sword (not shown) of the loom. Normally rod 64 is moved in the pawl-driving direction to a fixed limit or position during each cycle of the loom, and is allowed to return in idle movement an ex-- tent dependent upon the tension of the warp sheet and upon the diameter of the mass of warp remaining on the beam. Instrumentalities for this regulation of the idle or return movement of lever 90 include a bar 96 (Fig. 2) operated by a beam follower (not shown), which bar governs the vertical position of a transmitter 98 in opposed channels of a lever I00 and lever 90. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, lever I00 is pivotally mounted on a pivot I02 afiixed to the loomside 24, and is moved by a rod I04 pivoted thereto as at pivot pin I06. Rod I04 is actuated through pivotal connection with a lever I08 which in turn is regulated as to position by means influenced by the tension of the warp sheet I2, which last mentioned means are not shown. Lever 90 and sleeve 92 (Fig. 2) together with ratchet-wheel 80, may be held in assembled relation against gear 36 by a collar IIO on shaft 32.

The enumerated structure hereinabove described, and the operation thereof, are conventional and well known to those skilled in the art. In the prior constructions shaft 32 necessarily was longer, to accommodate either a clutch means between gear 36 and bearing 44, or to accommodate a hand-wheel outwardly of bearing 44 and on the end of the shaft. By the present invention the extent to which bearing 44 or shaft 32 protrudes into the weave room aisle is materially reduced, and at the same time a more convenient and simple structure is provided for forwardly or reversely operatin the ratchet-wheel 80 to forwardly or reversely rotate the warp beam I0. Further, the invention provides means whereby effort of the operator is transmitted through all of the reduction gearing of theletoff driving mechanisms; thus reducing the amount of force which it is necessary for the operator to exert in order to rotate the warp beam.

In attaining the objects of the invention there is provided an articulated ratchet or pawl lever II2 comprising a lower member II4 (Figs. 6 and 7) and an upper member I I6 preferably provided with an extended handle I I8. The two members.

of the pawl lever are ivotally interconnected by means of a pivot pin I20 secured in member I I4 and which fits within a hole I22 formed in the Lower member H4 is .provided with abore I 24 (Fig. 6) at its lower end,

. .5 rwhiohibore:issarrange'diforraeslidingffitaonsaihub mention i216; Fig-: 2) zofrratchet-wheelrfiil. ,Asiinadicated iin Figs. :2 sand :16, 1owerzmember .I- ['4 .lis aofisetrsomewhatfiniits :central portion so. it :will rclearztherrim of1ratchet+wheel 80. .-Upp.er:memfiber I. ['6 isr provided 'withsai double: pawl. structure, preferably :formed iintegrally :with "the :parent imenrber and comprising .twozpawls, .1128. and .130. fawl J28 is for-med awith a point :to :engage thei'tween sratch'et wheel *teeth while -pawl .130 ;is characterized by a notch |3D'?for:1embracing the Zbaeks and ends f :the .teeth. As .indicated in apawl4 28. is:so arranged that when han'dle I 8'- -is?rotate'd "counterclockwise about pivot pin I 20,:'tthat pawl iwill engage with i a back 'face 13% 'fOf iayrathet-wheel tooth. If thenthehandle is iflurther s move'd, the entire articulated pawlilever will be =rotate'd "counterclockwise (forward'l-y) eabout shaf-t 32 as an: axis, rotating the :ratchet tvizheel iforwardly and through 5 the: gearing rotatfiing the warp beam to let o'ii the :warp sheet. *Likew-ise if -the handle H 8 is rotated "clookwise rabout= pivot pin I I 2 0 as viewed in Fig. '7, pawl- I 311 w'ilYbe"rocked' into 'engagement with the front ?face f-33 *of a ratchet-wheel tooth. Continued iclook-wise movement' 'of 'h-andle I I8 will cause iclock-wise :movement "of the entire articulated rljaWPlGV-El about the -axi-sr0'f shaft 32, it being tevident that 'the'pawlson 'lever 9B =must be raised to talloweueh movement. This "continued movefreely over the ratchet-wheel. Fig. 4 illustrates ;reverse'-rotation of the ratchet=wheel by pawl I30, gpawls 88, "89 on 1 lever- 90 necessarily being raised ririto inoperative position during this "operation. ?It'=will"-be-'evident that to effect idle movement of 'ithe"articulated-pawl-lever, it is on'lv necessary to gpullhandle l I-8 outwardly of shaft 32, thus-aligneing the two members of the lever and 'freeing *pawls' I 28 *andI-BG' of engagement/with theratchet wheel, followed -by-rotationoof :the handle in the desireddirection about shaft 3.2. the outward pull zbeingjmaintained in themeantime. """T'rom "an eXaminatiOnofFigFZ it w'illbe evident that lower member I I4 is held in assembled relation on hub I25 of the ratchet-wheel by the hub of lever 99 which is in turn held in place by collar III]. Examination of Figs. 7 and 8 will reveal the relative positions of pawl lever I I2 and pawl lever 90 whereby the two may operate upon the ratchet-wheel without mutual interference. Afiixed to the loomside in any desired suitable 'manner is a member providing two abutments I32 and I34 (Figs. '7 and 8), arranged to act as stops for member I I6. When the articulated lever is carried to a position near the stops, either through rotation of ratchet-wheel 89 or by manual action of the loom operator. the two 'lever' members will be moved by gravitational forces to relative positions indicated in Fig. 8, or so that the lever is straightened or extended, wherein pawls I28 and I3!) are both clear of the teeth of the ratchet-wheel. Thus the ratchet-wheel may freely be rotated during normal loom operation by pawl lever 90.

Since .the articulated pawl lever provided by vl0 "an uncomfortable .;attitude.

amma 6 tthe invention :ffits unto rpreviously runoccupied r'space, :=:and :since w itrepla'ces .aQCIHtCh'LOILE, handavheel, or ;;both, :the roverall :length of .shaft .32 protruding? from: the loomside;may be materially 5 decreased. s-Additionally, since handle H18 extendsiupwardlyifrom shaft 32 thepawl-ileverzmay easilybeuoperatedtto rcause:either:forwarder-reverse rotation 10f the warp :beam and .that without nec,essity.;,of Lthe' operator bending ioverl into Further, :since the pawl lever-operatesithrough all :of the reduction ge'aring of the flat-:ofi emechanism, it is evident that 'theforcerequiredlto :be. exerted .by thevjoperater is greatly lessened from ;thatsrequiredwith other constructi'ons. Thus it evident that the obj ects- "of f the invention are fully. attained by the .--preferre'd embodiment uof the invention 1 herein disclosed.

Having thus. disclosed the inventionit "will be evident that modifications and 'changesvlithin the scope of theiinvention "will occur to those "skilled inthev art,iand what I claim and I desire vto "secure by Letters Patent :of the UnitedStates, is:

-"1. 1m a loom "comprising .a rotatable warp beam, rautomatic means acting during operation -o'f the loom to rotate'thewarp beamfin one direction and including 5a :ratchet wheel and driving pawl there'for; stationary tabutment means, "and *anarticulatedvmanual pawl.ilevericomprising two lever portions each normally ,heldinrinoperative position by" said abutmentameans andmovablezi-n onedirectionto engage and rotate said :ratchet- "wheel in "a first :direction and :movable :in :another :direotion "to iotatersaid ratchet-wheel gin a direction-opposite? tossaid'first-:directiomzwhereby said warp i beam mays'alternatively :be rotated in ei-ther :ofltwo opposite directions by alterna- -tive *movements of s aid pawl, lever.

in a loom :comprising a irotata-ble iwarp :beam "from which extends awarp sheet -mean s including a ratchet wheel and gearing --driv.en zthereby engaging "the beam to rotate \the "same, the ratchet wheelbeing rotatable inafirst1direetionfto cause/rotation o'fthe'beam to let-off the warp sheet therefrom: and inarsecondrdirection 'to cause rotation of the beam to wind onwthe warp eet, and *means including a pawl arranged :to rotate said ratc'h'et wheel in said first direction, -manually operable 1 means including a double-acting, articulated, pawl lever a'dapted to be used 7 in either of two *positions, in one ofwliich 'it' engages-*the fron't =faees of ratchet wheel teeth to move thebeamin one direction, and in the other of -which it engages the back faces of ratchet wheel teeth to rotate the said wheel and the beam in the opposite direction.

3. In a loom comprising a rotatable warp beam from which extends a warp sheet, reduction gearing, a shaft, and 'a hubbed ratchet-wheel arranged in driving relationship with said beam-to rotate the same through said reduction gearing, and means including a driving pawl arranged to intermittently drive theratchet-wheel to rotate the beam in a first direction to let on the warp sheet therefrom; an articulated manual pawl lever pivotally mounted on the ratchet-wheel hub and engageablewith said ratchet wheel and movable forwardly to rotate'the ratchet wheel forwardly and movable rearwardly to rotate the ratchet-wheel rearwardly, whereby said beam may by said pawl lever be rotated in said first direction or in the reverse direction, and through said reduction gearing.

4. In a loom comprising a rotatable warp beam from which extends a warp sheetgearingmeans of said shaftand having a point and a notch for.

selectively engaging a front face of a tooth or a back face of a tooth of said ratchet-wheel, said lever when moved in one direction engaging the front face. of a ratchet-wheel tooth to rotate the ratchet wheel in one direction and when moved in the opposite direction engaging the back face of a ratchet-wheel tooth to rotate the ratchetwheel in a direction opposite to said one direction, whereby said beam may by movement of said lever be alternatively rotated to let off or to wind on the warp sheet.

5. Ina loom comprising a rotatable warp beam having a gear thereon, a pinion in driving engagement with said gear, a shaft fixedly carrying said pinion, means mounted on said shaft for driving the same and including a ratchet wheel having a hub, automatic means including a pawl and acting to rotate said ratchet wheel intermittently in one direction during operation of the loom, means maintaining said shaft norinally quiescent between pawl driving strokes, a double-acting, articulated, manually operated pawl lever including one member p-ivotally mounted on said hub and a second member pivotally mounted on said first member, said second member having two pawls and being movable to different positions, in one of which its pawls engage no ratchet teeth, in a second of which one of its pawls engages ratchet teeth to rotate the ratchet wheel in a forward direction, and in a third of which positions, the other of its pawls engages the ratchet wheel teeth in a manner to rotate the ratchet wheel in a reverse direction, and stationary means engageable with the lever at spaced points thereon to hold it in a position of rest where its pawls engage no ratchet teeth.

6. In a loom having a rotatable warp beam and means interconnected to said warp beam for rotating it to let off warp yarns therefrom which includes, reduction gearing, a ratchet wheel for imparting movement to said reduction gearing and an automatically driven pawl means for periodically moving said ratchet wheel in a direction to let off the warp, a manually operated, two part, jointed, pawl lever having two tooth engaging means, the jointed parts of said lever being swingable about their connecting joint to either side of an extended and inoperative position, and means comprising spaced abutments engageable with the jointed lever to retain it in its extended position for normally retaining said lever in an inoperative position, said tooth engaging means being eifective for rotating the ratchet wheel selectively in either direction to let off or to take back warp through the said reduction gearing.

'7. In a loom having a rotatable warp beam and means interconnected to said warp beam for rotating it to let off warp yarns therefrom which includes reduction gearing, a ratchet wheel for imparting movement to said reduction gear.-

in and an automatically driven pawl means for periodically moving said ratchet wheel in a direction to let off the warp, a manually operable, two part, pawl lever the jointed parts of said lever being swingable about their connecting joint to either side of an extended and inoperative position and means comprising spaced abutments engageable with the manually operable pawl lever to retain it in its extended position for normally retaining it in an inoperative position, said lever being articulated and having two opposed pawl means, one for engaging the front of the ratchet wheel teeth and the other for engagin the back of said teeth, said pawl means being effective upon selective movement of the articulated lever for rotating the ratchet wheel forwardly or backwardly to let off or take back warp through said reduction gearing.

EDWARD C'. NICHOLS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Feb. 12, 1932 

